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The “M” Word

The militia is defined by Wikipedia as: an army or other fighting force that is composed of non-professional fighters; citizens of a nation or subjects of a state or government that can be called upon to enter a combat situation, as opposed to a professional force of regular, full time military personnel. It was common for militias to engage guerrilla warfare or defense instead of attacking.

Our founding fathers felt so strongly about our natural right to self defense and the necessity of an armed militia for the protection of that right, that they wrote it right into our founding documents.

The modern militia movement began to gain serious ground after the Waco incident, as we began to open our eyes, as Americans, to just how far our own government would go to set up a pretext to demonstrate the so called need for our alphabet soup agencies and their accompanying funding. After the Federal Building was bombed and the start of an intensive mis-information campaign, the movement went largely underground.

Today, unfortunately, due in large part to the mainstream media, SPLC, ADL and other so called watch groups, the mainstream perception of the militia is so very far from the truth. Today we are called extremists, domestic terrorists, and you can be sure to throw in a few back handed comments about us all being toothless, back-woods, hillbillies and rednecks. While a good majority of us may indeed come from a backwoods background, we need to really look at what is the truth behind the demonization. Instead of being called the derogatory, dismissive names that we are, we need to start calling the good-folks that serve in the Citizen Militia what they really are; first responders, former Military, current military, fire fighters, EMT’s, doctors, medical professionals, small business owners, husbands, wives, sons and daughters, preppers, true American Patriots, and heroes.

My first experience, personally, with what I would consider a real, trained, competent, and professional citizen’s militia of today, was at Bundy Ranch. Since then, I have had the honor and privilege to work, train, and deploy on patriotic operations such as Sugar Pine Mine and Lincoln County Montana with some of these incredible people. Whether it is standing guard over our own military recruiters that are not allowed by their own government to defend themselves after what any sane thinking human being would call an act of terrorism, or standing shoulder to shoulder with these fellow Americans as they took time away from their jobs and loved ones to go to Bundy Ranch and say we will not let another Waco happen on our watch.

I implore every American who is buying into the mainstream lies to reach out to your local militia, 3% group, or Oath Keeper chapter, and see for yourself, from your own experience, just who it is that makes up the fabric of our modern American Militia Movement.

Allen Lardieri, West Virginia Son’s of the Second and the militias that are in that area of the Appalachian Redoubt seem to be cut from that very fabric I am talking about. This past weekend during an aerial training session they took the time to put together this short video talking about these very subjects. Please, take the time to watch this video and share it with your fellow patriots.
Jason Van Tatenhove

Stewart is the founder and National President of Oath Keepers. He served as a U.S. Army paratrooper until disabled in a rough terrain parachuting accident during a night jump. He is a former firearms instructor, former member of Rep. Ron Paul’s DC staff, and served as a volunteer firefighter in Montana. Stewart previously wrote the monthly Enemy at the Gates column for S.W.A.T. Magazine. Stewart graduated from Yale Law School in 2004, where his paper “Solving the Puzzle of Enemy Combatant Status” won Yale’s Miller prize for best paper on the Bill of Rights. He assisted teaching U.S. military history at Yale, was a Yale Research Scholar, and is writing a book on the dangers of applying the laws of war to the American people.

23 comments

Not sure I am understanding your question Billy. If you are asking are there freemason’s involved with the Militia? Then the answer would be that I have not asked anyone specifically about being a mason. However, I have seen a few pins and patches out there. So I am sure there is at least a smaller presence there. I am not sure how much I buy into the whole mason cabal theories. I honestly have not really looked into them one way or the other. But, I am sure that just as with any cross section of humanity there are good guys involved with it and also bad guys.Please, let me know if I missed the point of your question all together.

from my reading, When you enroll in the MANDATORY Selective Service at 18 years of age, you are in the Militia. What do you all think?

“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? It is feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American…[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.

A Pennsylvanian, The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 20, 1788”

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“Selective Service System

The Selective Service System is an independent agency of the United States government that maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription.

The Selective Service System is authorized by the Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution which says Congress “shall have Power To … raise and support Armies [and] To provide and maintain a Navy;” The Selective

Service Act was the law which established the Selective Service System under these provisions.

Under current law, all male U.S. citizens are required to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday.”

In 1980, men who knew they were required to register and did not do so could face up to five years in jail or a fine up to $50,000 if convicted. The potential fine was later increased to $250,000.”

“On May 8, 1792, Congress passed “[a]n act more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States” requiring:

Each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia…”

OPFORjim, thanks for the question…It’s actually kind of funny as I was actually going to use that very quote in an earlier draft of my story. ”

“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? It is feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American…[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.

It is my take (and I can only ever speak for my own personal views) that the militia as our founding fathers intended it was separate and distinct from the professional military class. that it also included every able bodied man and woman that was able to handle a weapon and train together from the ages of 18 – 45 (maybe even younger or older depending on the person.) That this was a citizen brigade that was to be our nations first responders. Much as we envision our CPT teams here.

I think the selective service is tied directly in to the professional military and not directly related to the militia.

I turned 18 in 1982 and refused to register with Selective Service, and got into a metric shit ton of trouble because of that. I’m not a pacifist, and I certainly am not one of those people who were liberal when young and switched to being conservative when they got older. I’m a free man, and I intend to stay free. Free men would not permit the Selective Service System to exist.

That’s what got me interested in the militia, because it functions as a check against that sort of overreach. I’ve been involved for about three years now, and have no regrets whatsoever.

Wow, Jason. This is so extremely wonderful what you wrote, and what you have been faithfully doing. I am grateful for everyone who gave their time and energy to protect our country– in the military, police, sheriffs–and continue to honor their sacred Oaths. We need you! We appreciate you. God Bless YOU All…and
God Bless Our America

9 Militias from three States participated in the FTX. WE want to a hearty thanks to the Local Oath Keepers who provided support both publicly and behind the scenes. I’ll say it again, good to see Patriots of all types building bridges, instead of burning them.

Jason, this is exactly what I would like to see more of. Representation of who and what the Militia is. In my own state of Georgia I have tried to alert the commanders of several Militia units to designate a spokesman to fill a billet that has a soul duty of public relations. I really enjoyed watching this video which explained to the uninitiated citizen of our nation just what the Militia does and who is volunteers in such an organization and why they feel the need to do so. With the many unAmerican NGO’s operating in our country spewing the hatred and lies about Oath Keepers and the American Militia movement and Liberty Movement as a whole along with the willing collaboration of the Fifth Column formerly the Fourth Estate and the left of center ideological people who fill the organizations like SPLC, ADL, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC etc. we have to counter these propaganda machines with the truth like your well written article and the video that you have added to it. If the Liberty Movement and all of its different organizations can come together striving for the common cause of liberty and a return to our Constitutional Republic no matter what our differences may be then we can soon realize a sea change in our numbers and our successes no matter what lies are told about us.

I completely agree and I would encourage you to keep contacting your local organization to develop a dedicated PIO. I would even be willing to try and put together (along with some of the PIO’s I know that have been doing this longer than I) a Public Information Officer 101 handbook to try and educate someone who is new to position a starting point. If no one else will step up then maybe you should offer to do as such.

Norm is that really you? I stood by you the whole time in your efforts to awake people and I talked to you many times when you were on the air on shortwave programs back then. I will pay your dues to join if you will bless us by joining Oath Keepers. I am known as “Ol’ Rono” now over there, and just tell them I am paying your dues. I have Elias’s email and I will send a message I want to pay the dues for you Sir. You are really one of the Patriots we have to thank for starting our “new Freedom movement” . G-d bless you Sir! It is a privilege to have known you and hope to see you on our forum at Oath Keepers, it would really be a blessing for our movement to have your input! Salute !!!

My view is that the militia is everyone be they man, woman or child. TPTB like to portray “militia” as some gun nuts with tin foil hats but that is not the truth. There are many ways to passive resistance. One way is to not pay taxes other than use taxes. Take the income tax and shove it where the sun don’t shine. I NOT paying anyone anything for something that I have no idea what I am paying for. You have no right to steal from me by government diktat. Theft is theft whether by decree or force. I have no debt and owe no one anything yet people think I still owe them something. Wrong.

Everything I have is my own and I earned it the hard way: By working my ass off. I don’t want government subsidies and I do not want to be around anyone who does. That brings up the question: Are the Oathkeepers for real? I would like to believe so but I don’t know. How do I know that you guys are not gathering names for the thieves in D.C. and Wall Street? I didn’t see any Oathkeepers during the Ron Paul campaign of 2008 when we needed you most. Where were you when we were kicked out of conventions as elected delegates? 2012? I was one of them both times and I didn’t see any of you there. Do you think I am stupid?

So what is your plan then? Judging from the articles on this site you still don’t get it yet. Here is your problem: YOU STILL BELIEVE IN THE STATE as the solution to all of the problems that the state caused in the first place. Do you people really believe in liberty?

I want you to know that there is a militia out there that has no connection to the state as you have. We have no interest in the state at all. You seem to want to restore the state because of some romantic notions that it will make it all good again. Hey tool, it never was good to begin with and now it is getting worse and you finally figured it out.

I want to believe in you guys but I can’t. Why should I pay you guys anything to be a part of your little club? Tell me why. You guys are so compromised that it is sickening to witness.

No, you will never know who the true remnant actually is, where we are and who we are. We are there. There is no doubt that some of you believe in liberty but there is also no doubt that some of you believe in the state. This post is fully intended to piss off some people but those who have a deep conviction for liberty will understand what I am asking and saying here. I will never ask you for money but I will help you if I can if you ASK for help.

Not only is this article enlightening, but what you say is directly opposite of our mandate. We are NOT a militia, nor can we ever be one. As a retired US Marine, I’m still covered by Article 2 of the USMJ and strictly prohibited from being a member of any form of “militia”. Stewart Rhodes addressed this issue in 2010, confirming that we are NOT or we will we ever become a militia. Scenes at the Bundy Ranch = militia and scenes in Ferguson = militia. You can’t have it both ways. Has our mandate changed and are we now being considered a militia?

The Oath Keepers itself is not a militia. However, we have many members that are in an active “militia” group. This was just an article about my experiences with those people I have come across in being active in Oath Keepers.

I sincerely loved the article written by Jason. I do understand the difference between a standing Army, and the Militia as mentioned in the Second Amendment.
The background music was too loud for a person with hearing aids to be able to understand what Mr Lardieri said in the first part of the video. But I surely did enjoy the rest of it. I think this video and more like it, is necessary to get the true message across to America about the real militia.
Well done.
Thanks, Jason, for your contribution to OK, and also I thank the folks who made the video. Just wish I could have heard everything that was said.